The gentleman’s game does not seem to be gentle, and one more nail has been added into the coffin by the Ranadiv episode in the one-day match between India and Sri Lanka. While the no-ball is being debated to a great extent all over the country, what are being forgotten are four byes that were given by Kumar Sangakara in the same over that brought such crisis situation for Sehwag in terms of scoring the century? In hind sight, factoring in the instructions that Sangakara gave to his bowler, it indeed appears a deliberate intent on his part to have left the ball and allowed it to go for four byes so that Sehwag is not allowed the legitimate century that he deserved.

The Indian cricket team has forgotten the episode and has decided to move on, but the incident indeed would have a bearing on the spirit of the game in the times to come as captains and bowlers may adapt this kind of technique. Indeed, the same kind of situation was brought to the silver screen by Aamir Khan in his eponymous film Lagaan, where one of the fielders threw the ball outsides the boundary, so that he is denied the strike.

The moot point is, whether the whole reason for playing the game is to win it by hook or by crook? Such has become the desperation for winning that players have forgotten basis spirit and ethics of the game. It all had started in the recent memory in a big way when the Indian team had toured Australia under the captainship of Sourav Ganguly, and Ricky Ponting and his fraternity had resorted to such dubious ways to deny the Indians a victory. The tradition of walking away when the batsman feels, he has nicked the ball, is now becoming more a part of the folklore. Once the present generation of cricketers is gone, it indeed would be difficult to find players who would walk after having nicked a ball, though the fielders may not have realized it.

Coming back to the Sri Lanka episode, would such kind of leadership shown by him have a repercussion on his association with the IPL. Indeed, he needs to be taught a lesson that games are not won by deceit but by playing it in a fair manner. If Sangakara is made to sit out for one season, the message would go strongly all over the world. Would the authorities take the call?

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